[Review] Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper’s destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can’t get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she’s charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper’s least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him—and discovers that David’s own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y’all beg for more.

I don’t know why it took me so long to finally get to the Rebel Belle series because I absolutely adored Hex Hall by Hawkins.

While I didn’t enjoy Rebel Belle quite as much as Hex Hall, I still thought it was really cute, if not a bit predictable. I listened to this book (and the entire series) on audio while I got ready in the morning and had to listen to my husband mock the narrator’s bad southern accent. I have to agree with him, Amy Rubinate, while expressive, had an extremely fake southern accent which could take me out of the story sometimes.

This book was hilarious and girly and just plain fun. It’s not going to win any literary awards but it will certainly keep you entertained – it reminded me the slightest bit of Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens (and if you haven’t read that book I don’t know what you’re doing with your life). Harper is the ultimate Southern Belle, who, through some ahem… interesting circumstances, comes into these badass paladin powers and finds herself responsible for protecting the Oracle – her school nemesis David Stark (a nerdy hipster with poor fashion sense).

She has to keep this hidden from her friends, family, and perfect boyfriend, Ryan, while training trying to figure out what’s happening to herself, and balancing being head cheerleader, SGA president, captain of the debate team, etc.

There were some plot holes and some tangents that I didn’t think were totally necessary, but this is the type of book you read when you need a pick-me-up and just want something to lighten the mood and make you smile.

Have you read this book? What did you think? I may want to go reread Hex Hall now…